From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Customer's complaint about a 20 HP car overheating and a request for remarks.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\3\ Scan100 | |
| Date | 8th June 1931 | |
| (X411) PN.{Mr Northey}2/WTS.6.31. RECEIVED 8 JUN 1931 Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}..from PN.{Mr Northey} Copy to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} C. H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} GXO-69. J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} Hutton. Accompanying Com/D/AWS8/M3.6.31. we received a copy of a letter dated the 1st June from this owner, from which it will be gathered that whilst his 20 H.P. Rolls-Royce gave satisfaction in most respects, whilst recently touring on the Riviera and over Alpine Passes in Switzerland, he undoubtedly had a considerable amount of worry and dissatisfaction arising out of the tendency of the water temperature to rise sufficiently to cause frequent boiling. Naturally this owner, whose car has been in our hands subsequently, wishes to know whether there is anything abnormal the matter with his car, or whether we have designed it with the full consciousness that this sort of overheating will occur under the touring conditions which he met with. I have had an interview with Mr. Hutton and he tells me that the atmospheric temperatures were between 80 and 85° fahr., that he made sure his fan-belt was adequately tight, and that most of the overheating took place on mountain climbs in a gear, and at other times the boiling took place when on direct drive on the level all out. N. has reported that there is nothing abnormal the matter with this engine, and its water circulation, from the point of view of standard. What we feel is important to hear from you is whether this owner's complaint surprises you at all, or whether you would have expected this to occur with GXO-69, also the 25 H.P. car which we are producing daily (more or less), are they any better in this respect, and if so to what extent. Obviously we have to make some sort of reasoned reply to Mr. Hutton, but before doing so we are anxious to have your remarks. PN.{Mr Northey} | ||